Punk Turns 30

Where would punk rock be without the Sex Pistols ? They opened the floodgates...they were notorious and their first go-round as a band was relatively short-lived. Steve Jones claims to have stolen his first guitar from Mick Ronson at a David Bowie concert that he gained entry to by posing as a roadie. Supposedly Jonesy and his buddies stole quite a bit of gear. That may be urban legend, or Steve's own web-weaving... but its a great punk rock story nonetheless. I loved Jonesy's guitar playing on the Sex Pistols records.... their singles and their sole album. It sounded like his favorite band must've been The Stooges, and that was alright with me. But back in punk rock days, we didn't show Steve too much love. No, Pleasant, Randy and I, and maybe some others in the Lobotomy crew used to tease Jonesy RELENTLESSLY about that red hunting jacket in mock British upper class accents. After the infamous last Pistols gig at San Francisco's Winterland in January 1...

First of all, let me say that we had an absolutely stellar day yesterday, in terms of visits to this site. I can only credit the Cramps and the amazing Poison Ivy Rorschach, who is the cool next to Lux's creepy and crazy. It is not easy to be at the helm in a man's world, or even co-helming with a man in a man's world. Cuz Soul Brother #1 James Brown told you long ago, "It's a Man's World." No doubt about it. And punk rock was hardly different. I was moved to the point of saying out loud, "Right on sister," when I read the interview between Alice Bag and punk photographer, Debbie Schow on Alice's blog. (highly recommended reading for all, especially the girls and women of punk rock. It's most definitely, "right on sister" material.) So, here's another American guitar-slinging lady leading a band of men. Chrissie Hynde, the nice, smart girl from Ohio who decamped to London and made her mark in music first as a...